TEACHER Catherine Brandley's career is in tatters after an appeal against her conviction for assaulting a pupil was thrown out.

Judge Elgin Edwards said she should never be allowed to work with children again.

In June, magistrates in Crewe gave Brandley a two-year conditional discharge and ordered her to pay her nine-year-old victim #100 in compensation.

Brandley, 53, of Padgbury Lane, Congleton, was convicted of prodding and pushing the boy at a Sandbach primary school.

Neither the boy or the school can be named.

The incident has been regarded as a test case for the teaching profession and a spokesman for the National Union of Teachers said it should never have gone to court.

A legal technicality meant the boy could not give evidence by live video link at Chester Crown Court.

Instead he appeared behind a screen in the witness box and the judge and barristers removed their gowns and wigs to create a more informal atmosphere.

The boy told how Brandley had repeatedly prodded him in the chest and then pushed him against a wall banging his head.

When he started crying she told him to 'stop snivelling'.

Acting for the boy, Gordon Hennell, suggested that her tone had been 'not the sort of thing you would hear from a teacher, but what you might hear from a parade ground'.

He added: 'Not only did you waggle your finger, you poked him five or six times.

'You took hold of him and pushed him with both hands against the wall, banging his back and his head.

'You lost it didn't you?'

But Brandley claimed that the boy had thrown a tantrum after she had tried to calm him down in class minutes earlier.

She said: 'He sprawled across two chairs. He looked like he didn't have a care in the world. I pulled him up gently by his shirt and he stood up.

'I told him: 'You may not be frightened of me now, but you will be if you pull a stunt like that again.'

'I have never seen a tantrum like that in 30 years of teaching.'

Brandley was five days into a new post at the school when she assaulted the boy.

She added: 'As a new teacher in a new school, there is always going to be an element of 'let's see how far we can push this teacher.'

'I wanted him to know he had reached the boundaries of what I would accept in a classroom.'

The court heard that Brandley had a degree in psychology and had extensive experience in dealing with children with behavioural difficulties.

On top of the #100 compensation and #750 costs from the first case, she was also ordered to pay #432 to cover the costs of her appeal.

Statement defiant in defeat

Following her failure to get her assault conviction overturned, Catherine Brandley issued this statement to the Chronicle:

'I do, and always will, deny all the charges brought against me in this case. Unfortunately the law has been unable to protect me from the false allegations brought by this child and his parents.

It is unlikely that any further action will be taken, by me or on my behalf.

The stress of the last year has been at times almost too much to bear, and at least today has seen a closure to these traumatic events.

I know in my heart that I have always acted honourably and that the vast majority of right minded people will support me.

I have a very loving husband and wonderful children, of whom we are both immensely proud.

Nothing that has happened today can detract from this positive aspect of my life.

I feel extremely privileged to have the support of so many good friends and neighbours, not least those who have been here today to speak for me, despite pressure that has been put upon them to remain silent.

I have been totally overwhelmed by the love and support that I have received from all sections of the community.

I have also been moved to tears by letters and donations I have received from complete strangers, who have read about the case in the Press.

My thanks go out to you all.

The action of one child and his parents cannot destroy the happy memories that I have of the teaching profession. Nor can it destroy me or my family.

I conclude by issuing a warning to other teachers. Be cautious in your dealings with parents and beware of teaching children with known behavioural problems.

I have had one devastating experience in 30 years of teaching, but I still believe that working with children is a very worthwhile and privileged profession.

However there must be questions asked as to how teachers can be made to feel safe, and be protected from such malicious allegations in the future.'